Crowning achievement for champion Kings

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings' 45-year title quest ended in a triumphant flurry of blood, sweat and power-play goals. After missing two chances to claim the title last week, the Kings are NHL champions for the first time.

Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis scored two goals apiece, playoff MVP Jonathan Quick made 17 saves and the Kings beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Monday in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the first eighth-seeded playoff team to win the league title.

One penalty abruptly changed the tone of the series after the Devils had won two straight coming in after falling behind 3-0. Carter, Lewis and Dustin Brown scored during a five-minute power play in the first period after New Jersey's Steve Bernier was ejected for boarding Rob Scuderi, leaving Scuderi in a pool of blood. Quick took it from there, finishing a star-making two months by allowing just seven goals in six Finals games.

“We never lost our confidence,” said Quick, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He is the third American-born winner of the award since it was created in 1965. The Bruins' Tim Thomas (2011) and Rangers' Brian Leetch (1994) are the others.

“We had to take it on the chin to keep moving, losing two, and we looked at it as, ‘Hey, we still have to win one game to win a championship. And we have two chances.' Finally, we were able to do it.”

Martin Brodeur stopped 19 shots for the Devils, just the third team to force a Game 6 in the Finals after falling into a 0-3 hole.